Saturday, January 24, 2009

Lillo Brancato is a former child star best known for his role as Calogero Anello in the successful 1993 movie, A Bronx Tale. Brancato went from being on the fast track for movie stardom in the early 1990s to being a real-life crackhead and eventually ended up sentenced to a 10-year sentence in prison for his participation in a 2005 burglary gone horribly wrong that resulted in a dead police officer.

Brancato was born on August 19, 1976 in Bogota Columbia. When he was four months old, he was adopted by a New York City family. Brancato was discovered by a talent scout while swimming at a beach - the scout noticed Brancato's resemblance to Robert De Niro. Brancato was a fan of De Niro's and impressed the scout with an impression of Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver. Brancato's performance won him the role of De Niro's son in the 1993 movie, A Bronx Tale.

In A Bronx Tale, Brancato played Calogero Anello, a boy growing up in the Bronx in a working-class family. Calogero's father was Lorenzo Anello (played by Robert De Niro), an honest bus driver who tried to raise his son to be an honest and hard-working young man. As a young boy, Calogero witnessed a man being shot and killed by the neighborhood mob boss, Sonny LoSpecchio (played by Chazz Palminteri). When Calogero lied to the police when questioned about what he saw in the incident, Sonny took Calogero under his wing and tried to teach him to be "street smart."

Brancato received positive reviews for his role in A Bronx Tale. I thought his character was kind of annoying, although I will admit that Brancato did act with a certain degree of passion, which is probably somewhat unusual for a rookie actor. After A Bronx Tale, Brancato had a substantial role in the moderately successful 1994 army comedy drama, Renaissance Man, where he played an army cadet.

Toward the late 1990s, Brancato's acting roles became more sparse, although he did secure small roles in the hit movies Crimson Tide and Enemy of the State. Brancato followed up with a recurring role on The Sopranos in 2000, where he played Matt Bevilaqua, a small time mobster.

Brancato was hiding a secret and perhaps this was the reason for his lack of acting roles. His secret was a drug addiction that was overtaking his life. Brancato has claimed that he was first introduced to marijuana on the rowdy A Bronx Tale set. After A Bronx Tale, Brancato moved up to harder drugs such as crack cocaine and eventually became addicted to crack and heroin. Brancato also acquired a taste for prescription drugs.

On June 10, 2005, Brancato was arrested in Yonkers, New York, and charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police reportedly pulled Brancato over for having a rear brake light out and found he had an expired registration and no other papers for the vehicle. Police searched Brancato's vehicle and discovered four bags of heroin in a cigarette box in Brancato's car.

On December 10, 2005 Brancato participated in a burglary that would change his life forever. Brancato and an accomplice, 48-year-old Steven Armento, the father of Brancato's girlfriend, attempted to burglarize a vacant house in the Bronx area of New York City. Brancato and Armento were confronted by Daniel Enchautegui, an off-duty police officer who lived in the house next door, who heard glass break. Enchautegui called for backup and then all hell broke loose - Armento allegedly shot Enchautegui and Enchautegui returned fired, getting off eights rounds before he died, hitting Brancato twice and Armento six times times.

Lillo Brancato has gone from being a promising young actor to a convicted felon in a mere 15 years. Brancato probably dreamed of excitement of winning an academy award as a youth, but now he deals with the horror of possibly being a fellow prisoner's bitch in prison. For this and the reasons above, Lillo Brancato is one washed-up celebrity!

*** Update - August 21, 2013 ***

I recently discovered this 20/20 news report about Lillo Brancato and his troubles. This news report includes a jailhouse interview with Brancato:

*** Update - January 6, 2014 ***Lillo Brancato was released from prison on December 31, 2013. Actor Chazz Palminteri has absolutely no sympathy for Brancato's plight and recently told the NY Daily News, "Don't call me - and I won't ever call you." Palminteri, a strong advocate for the police department, apparently told Brancato to stay away from drugs years ago and is disappointed that Brancato did not heed his advice...

LOL, he does a profile on someone like Chuck Berry and you people complain that he's not washed up (although he sooo definitely is), yet you still bitch and moan when he covers someone like Lillo (whose case has been mentioned alot on CNN since it happened).

you're doing a good job dude. dw about what everyone else says. who the hell wants to read about the other washup celebs that everybody already knows about. kinda pointless if im reading about stuff i already know. keep up the good work.

Dude, this kid had a big future ahead of him. He got his firt role in A Bronx Tale because they thought he looked like a young DeNiro. Chazz Palminteri called him "a natural" in an interview they had with him on 20/20 (or one of the BS, hour long "investigative" shows). During the intervierw (from prison) Brancato tells them that he was high when they were shooting scenes with him in the movie! Of course, that blowhard Palminteri says, in retrospect, he "suspected" it. In any case The kid did like a season, or two, of the Sopranos, as one of the stooges in Christopher's small crew (when he's playing stock broker). Brancato did a real good job as a not too bright wise-guy. Thing is, he'd been f-ing up for a long time and everyone knew it wouldn't end pretty. I think it's a bum rap that he caught 10 years and he didnt fire a shot, but in the interview he even says something to the effect of "I'm better off." This is the epitomy of a wasted talent and bright future. Ironically he delivers a similar quote at the end of his first film, a Bronx Tale.

One of our neighbors is a corrections officer at the correctional facility that Lillo Brancato resides. Apparently, Lillo was recognized the first day at the correctional facility and was marked by the more seasoned convicts. Our neighbor said that as he was walking down the hall the other convicts were yelling commets like, "We are gonna put brown sugar in that Bronx Tale." Then others said, "The new bitch is gonna be screaming soprano after we pull the cellblock train on him." Well, as it unraveled there were understaffed for that particular shift and Lillo got gang-raped in the showers. Next, as the days and weeks went by his cellmate pimped him out for smokes and drugs to other convicts. It was revealed at one point that they pulled a train on him in the laundry room. After the most jaded convict finished with Lillo he wanted Lillo brandished. So they held him down and gave him a prison tattoo on his lower back of one laughing face and one crying face. According to our neighbor that means play now, pay later so in their lingo it meant have your way with Lillo now and give him a smoke later. So now according to our neighbor, Lillo is a marked bottom man in the big house-I hope they use condoms in there.

I sure hope that the comment from February 2010 isn't true. People have the audacity to joke about what goes on in prison. Just because someone commits a crime doesn't mean they deserve to be brutalized. These men behind bars are sick and will eventually get what's coming to them. I hope they add an extra log on hell for them and for anyone who things prison rape is funny, try it your dam self.

The last I saw this guy on TV was in the movie Crimson Tide. He did a fine acting job, and I began wondering what happened to him in the past decade... So I came across this blog post, the story, the trial, and hmm... figures.

This is for all of the ignorant fools who left comments and don't know what the hell they are talking about. Whomever made the comment about knowing a corrections officer, who repeated the lie about the gang rape, go fuck yourself, you lying sack of shit. No such thing ever happened. And as for you other sick fucks who made derogatory comments, you need to know what the hell you are saying before doing so. I mind is a terrible thing to waste, so go find one. But I guess you fuckers can't miss what you never had.

I will truly be glad when all of you are proven wrong. Everyone always has an opinion and no one knows or cares who the fuck you all are. Let's see what kind of washed up celebrity he is when he's back to acting and accepting awards.

What a pitty....hopefuly he learned a lot in prison and hangs in there ten years is way too much time for what he did. Theres people that murdered people and got way less than that.But thats the States law more tough than Canada.Good luck when you get out Lillo Brancato! Hang in there!

It ain't over till it's over. I hope he gets out, makes a new life for himself and goes back to acting. He is a gifted man. God bless him. He went down the wrong road, as many of us would, but for the grace of God. If you don't know who he is, I's say you probably don't know Chazz Palminteiri or DeNiro either. He held his own with them.

This kid is a terrific actor ...a natural. I watched a Bronx Tale again last night and I just wanted to reach into my tv and shake him...... what a talent he has wasted!!! He was also in a 6 part mini-series, that was about Joe Pistone/aka/Donnie Brasco. This was called Falcone. It was terrific and he was great in it also. I hope he gets it together when he gets out.

wow what crap! you know back in 88 i myself lost my brother by the hands of his girlfriend, so i know about murder and losing someone. she only served 13 years, tell me is that justice. now for lillo, yes he was high, who isn't? i myself feel for the family, but lillo did not carry the gun, did not intent to kill anyone, and did not shoot the victim. so if your out one night with your buddy, you guys have to much to drink or what ever, your friend gets into a fight and stabs someone and kills them, does that mean because you are with him, that you are responsible for what happened? it is terrible what happened. you can't bring the victim back, i know that first hand, the bitch that killed my brother is walking around WHILE MY BROTHER IS IN THE GROUND!

I am so so sorry for how Lillo lived his life. It bothered me when I read what happened to him. He is definitely "wasted talent". I also pray that he gets out and do better than before. I hope all goes well with him. God bless.

The whole prison rape thing never happened at alllll... how can someone lie like that :s Its a real shame but you know what, you have to be responisible for your own actions and face the consiquenses. Lillo has found god and is on the right track to turning hes life around and i wish him all the best - I just hope that he is not led into temptation when he comes out of there. He comes from a wonderfull family who are real do gooders and he has the shame of letting them all down to live with. aside from the drugs Lillo is a great guy, loves hes family and friends and its a real tragidy that a cop died and it ended the way it did. But he has the chance to turn hes life around and he is trying hes best. He has the support of hes family, friends and hes fans...

Just saw A Bronx Tale-This guy is a great actor-Jail is hell-My bet is that when he gets out, he will have grown up quite a bit-I am sure that he will resume his career and again become the great actor that he was- unfortunate situation for all

Well , well , well !!! It seems like some of you guys don't know what you guys are talking about ... Nobody knows what a person goes through unless they have lived it themselves... There is an old saying my grandmother used to say , "If you are clean from your sins cast the first stone so you can dirty someone else" If you are smart you would know what that means ... Lillo is not how some of you guys think he is ... I personally know him and he is nothing like some of you guys say. Talented , he is !!! Smart , that too ... Human THAT TOO !!! We all make mistakes but that does not give us the right to judge anyone ... Lillo NEVER got raped , and he does NOT have any tattoos ... I am not here to defend Lillo bcz believe me he can do that himself ... I just dislike the fact that you guys talk out of your a**es without knowing him ... And for those who still believe in him , keep it up bcz it is people like you that he needs ... Either way it goes , when we all go to sleep , we all wake up as who we are ...

This is very, very sad. Talk about wasting your talent! The average person doesn't know they are being wasted by family or society. The average person doesn't have the resources he had. How many people do I know that were adopted from a foreign country and end up starting a film career? Then blowing it for crank or H? After the Sopranos, I kept looking and wondering, and then this is what I find. I love "A Bronx Tale" and I bet people will keep saying 'what happened to Lillo'.

Anyone who talks down on this man is a insecure bitch who thinks there shit dont stink as well as think there better than the next.. ive fucked up numerous times and been to prison a couple times,but that doesnt make me.a bad person.. im one of the most well liked and respectful man u can meet but because i mad bad decisions that gives u a right to judge? Ur opinons r ludacris and unethical. Struggle builds character and the ones talking shit probably come from wealthy families.. trust me ur shit stinks too and ur not that perfect

Lillo is an assole who deserves to rot in hell. His cousin went to college with me and in 1995 he and his cousin crashed a party at a friend's house on campus. They trashed the place and assaulted a girl's potbellied pig by kicking it and hurting it. When confronted by me and several friends to throw him out of the house he took a fire extinguisher and swung it, breaking my friend's hand. He them assaulted the girl who lived in the house. A police report in Colonie, NY proves these facts. I hope this guy dies of AIDS in prison he deserves it.

Lilo darling. You won't be the first person in the world to fuck up and(if u want to),turn his life back around. Talent is something u either have or don't. U HAVE! Ur haters hate u more 4 dat than what u did. They don't care about that poor cop who died. Hang in there, do ur time and get ur life n career back. Wasted talent only truly refers to pple who r dead. U'RE ALIVE!! Luv u n ur work in d truly iconic Bronx Tale. God bless you.

A Bronx Tale is a classic movie and he did a damn good job. No one can take that from him; he may have made some poor choices in life. Then again who hasn't? Unless your the ALMIGHTY himself don't be soo quick to judge!

I was just watching the movie A Bronx tale like an hour ago and Lillo Brancato (calogero "C" Anello) quoted Chaz palminteri's character Sonny saying "the saddest thing in life is wasted talent". It's sad to see that, that's exactly what he did he wasted his talent. I hope one day he'll realize that he lost himself in the world of drugs,and that he really had potential to not only resemble Mr. Robert Deniro physically, he could've probably followed in his foot steps and possible become a decent actor. :(

Omg, REALLY PEOPLE? HE had it All.....and look what he chose to do- drugs n crime! Most people dont and will never have the opportunities that he had....... it is a shame, how he chose to waste his talent! Nobody is mentioning the fact that that off duty officer....a unselfish brave HERO....had his life snuffed from his family and US.....YES, US, PEOPLE WHO TRULY RESPECT N APPRECIATE THEIR CHOICE.....TO SERVE N PROTECT US., THAT IS THE REAL LOSS HERE!

I remember Lillo when he was 17 and he came into the bar were I was a door man.The Hall of Fame was a cool sports bar on 9a.in Westchester New York. We made sure he didn't drink. He was a good kid then.

Drugs not only kill people, they also kill careers and good cops! To all of those young people out there in Hollyweird, stay far away from drugs and booze! Take a look at what drugs did to Mr Bronx Tail, I mean Tale! He had to endure daily hot beef injections from criminals and dirty correctional officers! You have been warned!

porno actors maybe. lilo's fellow inmates must have had a hell of a time stuffing their unlubed cocks in his turd cave. last i heard his gape is so wide he can now fit 4 kilos of colombian coke along with a shank should there be trouble on the playground.